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The design of HMG Stones, an art gallery atmosphere

The design of HMG Stones, an art gallery atmosphere

04/12/2018

The architect Andrea Milani, from Studio Milani, has designed an art gallery atmosphere for the HMG Stones showroom in Bangalore (India). The interior design takes inspiration from the shape of a turtle’s shell and is able to create an elegant connection with nature.

The HMG group was founded in 1996 as an exporter of slabs, blocks of marble and granite to the main international destinations, including the United States and Canada.

After gaining visibility and knowledge in the market, both nationally and internationally, in 2012 the group launched HMG Stones to exploit the enormous potential of the marble and granite industry in India.

The next step of owner Anand Reddy was to decide to open an HMG Stones Gallery in Bangalore. To carry out this project, Reddy commissioned the Italian architect Andrea Milani from Studio Milani, whom he met during the annual stone fair in Verona.

Reddy was fascinated by the architect’s creativity and design sense; Milani, specialized in museum design, was immediately enthusiastic about the idea. Then the agreement was sealed thanks to the positive feelings felt after visiting the site.

Anand’s design brief for the showroom was not simple: “I always had an idea: a location dedicated to a premium and sophisticated market. The showroom is a theatrical stage with endless new sets: the stones are the portraits and the people passing by, the audience, “explains Anand.

After studying the brief, Milani’s design took inspiration from one of the oldest living creatures, the turtle. Just as this is distinguished by the uniqueness of its hard asymmetrical shell, in the same way natural stones have a variety of colors, shades and shapes that are always different.

The idea was to combine design with nature and give visitors a similar feeling when they visit the showroom,” dice Milani.

Both the exteriors and the interiors were therefore designed in such a way that natural stones and granites could blend in with the other furnishing elements present.

Spread over an area of 6,500 m², the showroom consists of a ground floor and a mezzanine. Currently has an inventory of over 200 varieties and colors of marble (both Indian and Italian), granite, travertine, onyx, quartzite, limestone, sandstone, soapstone – all available in about 50 finishes. There are also transparent semiprecious stones.

Customers can explore the differences of each stone and get detailed information about the composition, the quality, the grain structure and the application of the stones for various purposes.

The imposing façade of HMG Stones was entirely built in glass and steel so that the exterior blends with the nature that surrounds the building. The metal frame also acts as a barrier that minimizes the amount of noise from the outside.

“We used old steel blades to cut stones for the design of our building, a choice in line with our sustainable use of resources,” comments Milani.

A noteworthy feature is the introduction of stone blocks around the building that, instead of acting as a barrier, encourage passers-by to sit and enjoy the view inside the showroom, just like in an art gallery. This introduction to conscious design also makes the building a point of reference thanks to its comfortable and welcoming nature.

The steps leading to the showroom entrance are hexagonal in shape and are illuminated by LED profiles on the edges. This particular shape is inspired by the carapace of the turtle and also recurs on the ceiling and the floor design of the showroom, emphasized by our Brooklyn out black architectural profiles outline, tying the outside with the interior and further strengthening the theme.

“Each hexagon is different from the other for ‘angle and shape, just like the shell of a turtle,” , spiega Milani.

Once entered the showroom, the colors and shapes convey a sense of wonder. The ceiling is double-height, on the walls and on the display panels there are full-size stone slabs. Special adhesives and steel clamps were used to fix the stones on the wooden walls.

The marble and limestone finishes are on the ground floor. A staircase leads to the mezzanine that shows exotic granite, onyx, quartzite enamel and other finishes. Each of these stones is shown in the natural form.

Through the incredible effort of Andrea Milani and his team, the idea of Anand Reddy has been transformed into a magnificent reality. The HMG Stones Gallery, through its timeless design, concept and masterful execution, is a reference point in the showroom of the natural stone segment.